"It's exaggerated? I just want them to try it. It would be too regrettable not to have tasted Dango Milk."
Ei sighed. Since the stall owner said so, she supposed it was for the best.
"Ah Ying, you like it so much, want another cup? My treat!"
Feng Yi pulled out a bag of Mora and said generously.
"No... no, let's forget it. I'm not that obsessed."
Ei blurted out a "want" but immediately corrected herself, considering her image.
"Got it! Boss, two more Dango Milks!"
Feng Yi understood instantly and handed the money bag to the stall owner, buying two cups of Dango Milk for Ah Ying.
"Feng Yi, I didn't mean that..."
"I know, I know!"
Feng Yi indicated that no explanation was needed, as they knew each other well enough.
Zhi Shu skillfully made two more cups of Dango Milk. He didn't want to accept payment, but Feng Yi insisted.
Feng Yi carried the two cups of Dango Milk and left the shop with Ah Ying, continuing to walk on the street where cherry blossoms were falling.
Slurp—
"Ah Ying, I can't eat anymore. Can you finish the rest for me? It would be such a waste..."
Feng Yi drank one cup and handed the remaining one to Ah Ying.
"Is that okay?"
Although Ei said so verbally, her body was quite honest, and she reached out to take the Dango Milk Feng Yi offered.
Ei's thoughts: Feng Yi can't finish it? What a waste, how can this be acceptable? Waste is shameful, it's a sinful act, I swear to fight against sin to the end!
So, this cup of Dango Milk...
"Ah—it's so delicious! Desserts really can make people relax. It's much more enjoyable than thinking hard alone!"
After finishing the Dango Milk, Ah Ying felt extremely happy, and her steps became much lighter.
"Feng Yi, is this shop the 'Yae Publishing House' that Yae mentioned? It seems to sell... light novels? She always brags about it, but I don't really get it. Since we have this opportunity, why don't we go and see?"
Passing by Yae Publishing House, Ah Ying suddenly stopped and pulled Feng Yi to go and have a look.
Feng Yi readily agreed. She didn't expect to run into an old acquaintance inside Yae Publishing House.
"Hi, Zhongli, you read light novels too?"
Feng Yi saw Zhongli sitting by a tea table, engrossed in a light novel, taking sips of hot tea occasionally. He looked extremely content.
Is this the retired life of leisurely wandering the world? I'm so envious!
"I have nothing else to do, and I heard the people of Inazuma talking about how interesting these light novels are. I came specifically to experience it."
Zhongli saw that the newcomers were Feng Yi and Ei, poured them both a cup of tea, nodded gently, and invited them to sit down and chat.
This whole thing started when he was listening to a play at a teahouse. When the play ended, he overheard all the audience members discussing the currently popular light novel—"The Wonderful Adventures of the Stone Monkey." He discovered that it involved him and Osial, which immediately piqued his interest, so he specifically came to Yae Publishing House to borrow it.
He had to admit, the story was quite interesting, and he was engrossed in it for a while.
"Lord Morax, I didn't expect to meet you here. Please forgive any lack of hospitality."
Ei was startled. She hadn't expected to meet the God of Contracts from Liyue here. She had heard from Yae that Morax was visiting Inazuma, but he was too busy with trivial matters to host a banquet for her personally.
Today, it seems Feng Yi and Morax are quite familiar with each other?!
"Your Excellency the General need not worry. I am just an ordinary person now, named Zhongli, wandering the world. I am making a brief stop in Inazuma..."
Zhongli waved his hand. He didn't want to work while on vacation.
He had protected Liyue for thousands of years; couldn't he take a break?
"I see. As expected of Lord Morax!"
Ei said with great admiration.
Since the Archon War, the supremely powerful martial god Morax had guarded his land and protected its peace. Even now, in an era of peace, Lord Morax had not relaxed. He had transformed into an ordinary person, walking among the people, personally experiencing their lives, understanding their unspoken hardships, and solving their life problems.
What a diligent and benevolent god, who cared for his nation and his people!
Ei felt that this was a role model worth learning from!
"???"
Zhongli was taken aback and suddenly felt a bit bewildered. Ei's admiring gaze made him feel a little dizzy.
He was just enjoying his retirement early, listening to music, drinking tea, reading books...
Was there anything worth admiring about this?
"I have learned a lot!"
Ei solemnly clasped her hands and bowed to him, making Zhongli even more confused.
"Zhongli, I'm hosting a hot spring party in the Serenitea Pot tomorrow. Would you like to join?"
Feng Yi interrupted their off-topic conversation and invited Zhongli.
"Is there good tea?"
"Yes, yes!"
"Then it's settled!"
Ei was stunned by their conversation, especially when the Geo Archon's eyes suddenly lit up upon hearing about good tea.
Was it an illusion?
"Alright! See you tomorrow. I'll take Ah Ying inside to pick out a couple of light novels first. Zhongli, you can stay here and look around..."
Feng Yi nodded and led the still somewhat dazed Ei towards the store.
"Your Excellency the General visiting Yae Publishing House, do you have any instructions?"
Kuroda, an editor at Yae Publishing House, was startled by the arrival of the distinguished General and stood up hastily to greet her. If anyone familiar with him were present, they would notice... Kuroda's voice had become tensely distorted.
"It's nothing, no need to be nervous. I'm just here to browse..."
Ei quickly recovered from her daze, nodded at Kuroda, and gently gestured for him to calm down.
She was just here to see what light novels were, not to confiscate them.
"I'm sorry, I didn't quite understand. Are you referring to management, publication standards, or perhaps... fire safety?"
Given the General's noble status, it was impossible not to be nervous, and Kuroda was sweating profusely.
"Kuroda, don't be nervous. Ah Ying just wants to see what light novels are like..."
Ei tried to comfort Kuroda, but it seemed to have the opposite effect, making him even more nervous.
Seeing this, Feng Yi immediately stepped forward to smooth things over. They were here to have fun, not to cause trouble.
"Your Excellency the General... wants to read light novels?!"
Kuroda was shocked. He had already imagined Yae Publishing House committing some offense, leading the General to personally investigate with an iron fist.
And the result was... this???
Feng Yi's thoughts: You think she's on the fifth level, but she's actually on the first!